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Editing v0.34:Ambush
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An '''ambush''' is a type of attack in [[fortress mode]] where a small force of enemy {{Catlink|humanoids}}, typically [[goblin|goblins]], attempts a sneak attack on your [[fortress]]. While smaller in scope than a full [[siege]], ambushes are not related to the number of [[dwarf|dwarves]] in your fortress, and so can be triggered by relatively small populations. | An '''ambush''' is a type of attack in [[fortress mode]] where a small force of enemy {{Catlink|humanoids}}, typically [[goblin|goblins]], attempts a sneak attack on your [[fortress]]. While smaller in scope than a full [[siege]], ambushes are not related to the number of [[dwarf|dwarves]] in your fortress, and so can be triggered by relatively small populations. | ||
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== Types of ambushes == | == Types of ambushes == | ||
=== Goblins === | === Goblins === | ||
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[[Goblin]] ambushes are usually announced with the message "An ambush! Curse them!", though this is occasionally modified to "A human has sprung from ambush!" if a captured [[human]] leads the [[squad]] (human [[civilization]]s themselves do not send ambushes, only [[siege]]s). Goblin ambushes are attracted by relatively high amounts of wealth; beyond a certain threshold, the higher the wealth, the more attractive your fortress becomes as a goblin ambush target. | [[Goblin]] ambushes are usually announced with the message "An ambush! Curse them!", though this is occasionally modified to "A human has sprung from ambush!" if a captured [[human]] leads the [[squad]] (human [[civilization]]s themselves do not send ambushes, only [[siege]]s). Goblin ambushes are attracted by relatively high amounts of wealth; beyond a certain threshold, the higher the wealth, the more attractive your fortress becomes as a goblin ambush target. | ||
− | Goblins usually enter the map with two to four squads, each of which must be detected separately. On the sliding scale of [[wealth]] attraction goblin ambushes lie squarely between [[thief|thieves]]/[[snatcher]]s and [[siege]]s, but are infinitely more annoying; snatchers are a mere nuisance and sieges can usually be dealt with, but you might not find an ambush until it's too late to prevent them from entering your fortress and slaughtering your populace (or staying outside of it and killing off your [[wood cutter]]s, or your [[plant | + | Goblins usually enter the map with two to four squads, each of which must be detected separately. On the sliding scale of [[wealth]] attraction goblin ambushes lie squarely between [[thief|thieves]]/[[child snatcher]]s and [[siege]]s, but are infinitely more annoying; snatchers are a mere nuisance and sieges can usually be dealt with, but you might not find an ambush until it's too late to prevent them from entering your fortress and slaughtering your populace (or staying outside of it and killing off your [[wood cutter]]s, or your [[plant gatherer]]s, or your [[meat industry|livestock]], or your [[fisherdwarf|fisherdwarvers]], or your [[ambusher]]s, or...). Dealing with the threat of a hidden ambush is an important element in [[military design]]. |
− | It may be preferable to avoid goblin ambushes as much as possible by holding wealth down early on, and then creating a large number of high-value objects as possible in a short period of time on the way to "siege level" fortress wealth attraction. This reduces your exposure to ambushes, but means you have to deal with sieges | + | It may be preferable to avoid goblin ambushes as much as possible by holding wealth down early on, and then creating a large number of high-value objects as possible in a short period of time on the way to "siege level" fortress wealth attraction. This reduces your exposure to ambushes, but means you have to deal with sieges of the bat instead. |
=== Elves === | === Elves === | ||
− | If you manage to sufficiently anger an [[Elf|elven]] civilization by offering their [[trade]]rs [[wood]]-based items or by killing them off entirely, you may front an elven ambush, announced with the message "An ambush! Curse all friends of nature!" | + | If you manage to sufficiently anger an [[Elf|elven]] civilization by offering their [[trade]]rs [[wood]]-based items or by killing them off entirely, you may front an elven ambush, announced with the message "An ambush! Curse all friends of nature!". Elven ambushes are similar to goblin ones, except that non-ranged elven warriors are laughable fighters. Elven ambushes are also possible if your civilization is enemies with the elves, which occasionally happens. |
=== Necromancers === | === Necromancers === | ||
− | [[Necromancer]]s will also | + | [[Necromancer]]s will also occassionally ambush your fortress, if you are in range of their [[tower]] and they opt out of a full-on [[siege]]. Necromancer ambushes consist of several necromancers, each one being detected individually; an early warning sign for a necromancer ambush is the presence of [[undead]] in non-evil [[biome|biomes]]. These ambushes are announced with "Intruders! Drive them away!". The necromancers themselves are harmless, being regular old unarmed humanoids; however, very bad things will happen if they manage to find their way within sight of any left-over goblin sieges, [[corpse]] or [[refuse]] [[stockpile]]s, or (god forbid) last month's [[dragon]] invader. For this reason it is highly recommended that fortresses within sounding range of a tower internalize or [[atom smasher|atom smash]] all of their meat byproducts, and set [[standing orders]] to "gather refuse from outside" and clean up any meaty outdoor bits. |
=== Kobolds === | === Kobolds === | ||
[[Kobold]] ambushes are triggered by a long enough string of successful kobold thieveries, and are announced with the message "An ambush! Skulking Vermin!". This usually only happens when kobold thieves manage to steal from an outdoor cache of some sort that your dwarves cannot access for some reason, possibly fallen [[goblinite]] from or during an ongoing siege. Kobold ambushes are mostly notable for being much more annoying than kobold thieves, and should not be allowed to occur. | [[Kobold]] ambushes are triggered by a long enough string of successful kobold thieveries, and are announced with the message "An ambush! Skulking Vermin!". This usually only happens when kobold thieves manage to steal from an outdoor cache of some sort that your dwarves cannot access for some reason, possibly fallen [[goblinite]] from or during an ongoing siege. Kobold ambushes are mostly notable for being much more annoying than kobold thieves, and should not be allowed to occur. | ||
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== See also == | == See also == | ||
* [[Siege]] | * [[Siege]] | ||
* [[Wealth]] | * [[Wealth]] | ||
− | * [[ | + | * [[Military design]] |
{{Military}} | {{Military}} |